National costume of the Croats from Baranja

Prikazano je pučko ruho baranjskih Hrvata u svoj njegovoj raznolikosti (uvrsti materijala, krojevima, načinu ukrašavanja, izboru boja) te ukazano na različite utjecaje koji su doveli do toga šarenila. To je ruho bilo ujedno izraz svijesti njegovih nositelja o vrijednosti koje ono ima kako na uporabnoj, tako i na simboličkoj razini. U tom smislu ono je ostalo znakom nacionalnoga identiteta baranjskih Hrvata. U autarkičnom baranjskom seljačkom društvu ono je u pravome smislu bilo kućni proizvod.This article shows the traditional way of dressing, and establishes its characteristics, development and influences. The intention is to bring the basic knowledge of the costume of the Croats from Baranja closer to a reader not acquainted with it. The costume is in a way a picture of the area it developed in, the influences it was exposed to, the meanings to those who created it, the relationship they had with it and, finally, the role and value in the whole of the traditional culture. This costume shows successfully the view of its users, which can be observed in numerous variants of work and festive costumes. The future use and the age of a woman prescribed a certain weave technique, pattern and colours. By observing the development of costume the two variants are noticeable: the old (starovirski) costume consists of the linen "rubina" decorated with embroidery, which is encircled by "Sara" and the matching woollen garments, while the other costume consists only of "rubina", which is completed with the other parts which are considered to be new because of the sorts of cloth, forms and decorations. The traditional society of Baranja was economically self-sufficient, so every woman from Baranja made her costume a real home product. Living together with other ethnic groups, the Croats from Baranja showed their nationality with their costumes. The whole population, regardless of sex or age, shows the attachment to the national costume, and in comparison with the other nationalities, the Croats remained the most persistent in wearing the costume